Appleby announced the promotion of six lawyers, including Cathryn Minors, a member of the insurance team, who has been appointed a partner.

Katie Blundy, Arielle DeSilva and Hailee Forde have been promoted to counsel, while Larissa Dziubenko and Ryan Taylor have been promoted to senior associate, Appleby said.

Ms Minors has a wide range of experience in corporate and commercial matters, having worked in the Bermuda market for over a decade. Her particular expertise includes advising on insurance and reinsurance matters involving life insurance securitisations, catastrophe bonds, special purpose insurers, and long-term and general business commercial re/insurers.

Her practice includes corporate structuring and governance, equity and debt issuances (including regulatory capital), joint ventures, securitisations, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, restructuring, regulatory compliance and licensing advice.

Prior to joining Appleby, Ms Minors worked in the corporate department of two other law firms in Bermuda and Hong Kong. Her experience also includes working as legal counsel for a Bermuda-based life re/insurer.

Ms Minors is recognised as a “next generation partner” by Legal 500 in the Insurance/Reinsurance category.

Ms Blundy focuses her practice on corporate and commercial transactions, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and capital markets transactions.

Before joining Appleby, Katie practised as a corporate and securities lawyer in Vancouver. She was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 2016. Katie is recognised as a “leading associate” by Legal 500 in the Regulatory and Compliance category.

Ms DeSilva advises on a range of corporate and commercial matters across a comprehensive range of Bermuda entities and has experience acting in connection with multi-jurisdictional finance and fund finance transactions.

Ms DeSilva is recognised as a “leading associate” in the Banking, Finance and Capital Markets category by Legal 500 and as an “associate to watch” in the Corporate and Finance category by Chambers Global.

Ms Forde provides strategic advice to both international and local clients on a broad range of high-value corporate and commercial matters. She specialises in complex corporate finance, multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions, and intricate group restructurings, often involving sophisticated cross-border elements.

Before joining Appleby, Hailee practised in New Zealand, where she developed deep expertise in property and development finance, acquisition finance, and corporate governance. She is an admitted barrister and solicitor in New Zealand.

Ms Dziubenko maintains a broad corporate and commercial practice, advising public and private institutional clients and multinational corporations on sophisticated cross-border financing and M&A transactions. She also has extensive experience advising on financing and refinancing matters. Before joining Appleby, she practised in Vancouver.

Mr Taylor has broad experience with international arbitration and complex cross-border disputes, with particular expertise in policyholder contentious insurance disputes and high-value financial matters. Ryan has experience supporting arbitration proceedings under various major institutional rules.

Prior to joining Appleby, Ryan practised at a corporate securities litigation firm in Toronto, where he was involved in a range of complex disputes. Mr Taylor was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2020.

Brad Adderley, managing partner and head of Appleby’s corporate practice in Bermuda, said: “These promotions recognise six exceptional lawyers, each making a significant contribution to Appleby and the high standards we set for excellence in our work and client delivery.

“Through their technical expertise, professionalism and commitment to quality, each consistently delivers outstanding work for our clients while also strengthening their teams through collaboration and collegiality. We are proud to recognise their achievements and look forward to their continued growth and impact.”